Samboja Lestari is a protected forestation reserve in the east of Borneo whose main objective is to be an orangutan rehabilitation centre. It is home to over 220 orangutans, and also contains 3 sunbear enclosures with 52 sunbears. It is owned by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, which has appeared numerous times on TV, most notably with the hit series Orangutan Island and Orangutan Diaries. Samboja Lestari is funded by project partners; Vier Pfoten (Four Paws). They are an animal welfare organisation from Austria who help to run the orangutan rehabilitation and release programme.
The forest itself was replanted in 2001. Willie Smits and a team of dedicated conservationists replanted this 1,850 hectare site and by 2006 more than 740 different species had been introduced. However, after 9 years, the forest is dominated by a relatively low number of pioneer species that have adapted to the low soil fertility and high exposure to sunlight. These pioneers have produced a protective canopy and restored a fertile soil layer so that in the long term, more rainforest tree species will grow.
The orangutans are found in three main areas; cages, islands and the forest. For the lucky orangutans, there are 7 islands that provide an outdoor enclosure. The best candidates for release taken into the forest where they learn the skills and behaviours to survive to the wild when they are released.
Activities at:
Volunteering. Volunteers can work at the centre helping the orangutans to achieve a better quality of life, especially of diseased orangutans and captive sunbears, and increase their chance of learning the behaviours necessary for life in the wild.
Education. Students from primary to tertiary institutions can do nature studies as a supplement to their classroom activities. Special groups and the general public are also welcome.
Research. The Centre will cater for researchers from local and overseas universities in certain circumstances.
Conservation. Healthy, young orangutans are given the time and conditions to learn behaviours and skills that will allow them to be released back into the wild. These orangutans are kept away from the public in order to decrease the effects of humanisation and disease transfer.
Recreation. Visitors can visit the orangutan islands, the sunbear enclosures and walk around the reforestation area.
Samboja Lestari is located 1 hour outside of the large city of Balikpapan, in East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. The nearest international airport is located here in Balikpapan.
See our volunteering or education programmes at Samboja Lestari.
There are trips locally available such as a dawn river cruise to see rainforest primates, the cultural village to see tribal lifestyles and a primary rainforest walks.
| The Great Orangutan Project and Great Marine Project are made up of several programmes:
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